Book 2: Seven Demon's Hearts

Episode 24: Aiko

Episode 24: A i k o

"What..." Leyla dropped the bundle, clutching her chest instead. My sobs abruptly stopped, watching Suga take off the cape, holding a moving bundle instead. "No...no you fool!" She choked, falling to her knees as her hands clawed at the bundle she had stabbed instead. As soon as she uncovered it, we all saw the wooden voodoo doll instead. My legs gave out and V quickly grabbed my arms to stabilize me.

"A reverse spell. And you fell for it." Suga walked over, barely glancing at the dying witch. "I told you, mother, you wouldn't be able to achieve what you wanted. I told you. The moment you were close to glory, the moment you get what you wanted, I'll be there to take it away from you at the very last second."

"You...how could you?! I-I did this..." she coughed out blood. "It was all for you! You fool!"

"I never asked for your help!" Suga turned around, glaring down at Leyla. "And you never wanted to offer it either. I'm no fool! You planned this all out from the beginning. You planned on using my power when you sacrificed your coven and you were going to take everything from this child for yourself. I wasn't a fool to actually heed with your plan mother, but it seems like I've succeeded as to trick even your visions with my power. Right now you're probably wondering how you didn't see this. The truth is, after tricking you, I then slowed down the course of events from your eyes. The visions we see also live in a dimension, and anything that is controlled by the boundary of past, present, and future is capable of being altered. Time is my specialty mother, how could you underestimate your own son's powers? You've let your guard down with old age, haven't you."

"You're still a fool..." She shook her head. "All that power and you still want to live your life like a slave to that 'family' you think you have? I should have killed you long ago when I had the chance just for your stupidity alone. But I guess I was stupid enough to think that I could use someone as weak as you."

Suga shook his head and sighed. "You're truly twisted. A mother who no longer has a heart beating for her own child is not a mother. She'd be a monster."

I watched, feeling a wave of relief slowly sink into me as Leyla's body shriveled up into its true wrinkly form.

"Get a taste of your own medicine. May the ancestors curse your tarnished soul." Suga mumbled right as her body fell to the ground, dead as a corpse.

The three of us stared at him with disbelief as he broke the barrier down and walked over to us. Immediately, I left V's grip and practically ran down to Suga, grabbing my boy and holding him tightly into my chest.

"H-How is the baby?" Deealah slowly crept over, taking a curious peek at him but ended up gawking with awe, entranced by my boy's cuteness.

"Oh my...oh my goodness..." I sniffled back tears, watching his tiny sleeping face. His lips made a small pout, occasionally trembling for a few seconds, his eyes brows rising with disturbance before a calm and serene smile took over his face.

"I tried to place him to sleep so he wouldn't be stressed," Suga spoke up. "I'm sorry this all had to happen you." His eyes shifted behind me and I turned to look at V who was frozen in place, staring down at our baby from his distance. "I apologize for what I also said earlier, brother. I've never considered any of you to treat me that way. My eyes have seen your true feelings before any of my brothers have V. I know who really appreciates me and who doesn't."

V's eyes slowly peeled off of the bundle and he looked up at Suga, a small smile of appreciation crawling on his face before he fell down to the floor.

"V!" I gasped, running over to him, but Deealah was one step ahead.

"You look beat!" She panicked and started a healing spell, but V interrupted and grabbed her arm tightly.